Walked away from his residence on Chong Street, Hilo, today at 5:30 pm. Party is in need of medical attention and may appear disoriented. He is 5’7″, 155 pounds, Korean, wearing a camo brown and green jacket, and a black and white plaid shorts. He has a noticeable limp. If located contact Police.

A Cooking Contest at the Puna ‘Ulu Festival calls for original recipes that feature breadfruit as the main ingredient. The Puna ‘Ulu Festival will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 9 am – 3 pm at Ho‘oulu Lāhui, the site of Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School at Pū‘āla‘a, adjacent to the ‘Āhalanui County Park warm ponds in Puna. The event is free and open to the public. The Puna ‘Ulu Festival features a cooking contest, breadfruit trees for sale, presentations on the cultivation and care of ‘ulu trees, poi pounding, tapa making, activities for the keiki, music all day and local food featuring breadfruit.

Ulu Tamales: The Puna ‘Ulu Festival will feature a Breadfruit Cooking Contest where the public enters their favorite breadfruit recipes. Pictured here are ‘Ulu Tamales cooked by the Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School students, who won an award at the September, 2011 Breadfruit Festival. Photo Credit: Sonia R. Martinez.

The day will include a Breadfruit Cooking Contest in which the public can enter recipes in the categories of Appetizer, Main Dish/Entrée and Dessert. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of these categories and for Healthiest Choice and Best in Show. Breadfruit Cooking Contest rules and entry forms can be found at www.breadfruit.info.

Dishes can be dropped off at the Puna ‘Ulu Festival on Saturday, March 3, 2012 between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Contest entrants must submit an Entry Form with recipe(s)—pre-registration is appreciated, but not required. Contestants are asked to bring dishes two ways—a plated 10” to 12” (or an 8 inch bowl for liquid dishes such as soups and curries) dish for presentation and judging, and a larger platter (approximately 9” x 13”) for public sampling.

In addition to displaying and sampling the cooking contest entries, cooking demonstrations will be held throughout the day featuring Chef Casey Halpern from Café Pesto, Shirley Kauhaihao, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner from Kona and the students of Kua O Ka Lā PCS. There will also be a locally sourced buffet lunch which features breadfruit.

The Puna ‘Ulu Festival is sponsored by Ho‘oulu Lāhui, Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network, the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Kamehameha Schools. The Puna ‘Ulu Festival is a part of a larger statewide effort to revitalize breadfruit for food security called Ho‘oulu ka ‘Ulu. Learn more about the Puna ‘Ulu Festival by visiting www.breadfruit.info or call 965-5098.

Big Island police are renewing their request for information about a 17-year-old boy who was reported missing.

Austin Imholt

Austin Imholt failed to return to his Kailua-Kona home on 29 October, 2011. He is described as 5-foot-7, about 145 pounds, with a fair complexion, blond curly hair and blue eyes. He has a black outlined gothic tattoo on his right forearm and a tattoo with the word “IMHOLT” in old English lettering on his back.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Officer Robert Sakata at 326-4646, extension 276, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man wanted for questioning in connection with an assault at Punaluʻu Black Sands Beach on January 12.

Have you seen this guy?

A 29-year-old man from Meadow Lake, Oregon, was taking pictures of turtles when another man confronted him and told him to stay away from the turtles. The suspect then punched the cameraman in the left eye and took his camera and wrestled him to the ground. During the ensuing struggle, the victim’s girlfriend retrieved the camera. Bystanders separated the two men and the victim’s girlfriend took a picture of the suspect.

Police ask that anyone with information on his identity call Officer James Lorenzo at 939-2520 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

A 6-month-old boy from Japan died Thursday (February 23) from injuries he received in a one-vehicle crash on Hawaiʻi Belt Road (Route 11), .3 miles northeast of the 48-mile marker in the Kapapala area of the Kaʻū District.

The victim was identified as Yuta Suzuki of Shiyonawate, Japan.

Responding to a 5:10 p.m. call, Kaʻū patrol officers determined that the father of the boy, a 36-year-old man from Japan, had been operating a 2011 Dodge van and traveling south on Hawaiʻi Belt Road when he ran off the right side of the road and overturned.

The driver and two passengers, a 37-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, were taken to the Ka’u Hospital. The driver and the male passenger were treated and released with minor injuries. The woman was later transferred to Hilo Medical Center for further evaluation.

Fire/Rescue personnel took the 6-month-old boy, his 28-year-old mother, a 30-year-old female passenger and another female passenger, age unknown, to Hilo Medical Center.

The baby was pronounced dead at 7:55 p.m. at Hilo Medical Center.

The mother was treated and released. The the other two women were confined in serious condition.

All the adults were wearing their seat belts. The baby was not in his car seat at the time of the crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the third traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with five at this time last year.

Volcano Art Center’s Spring Concert Series continues on Saturday May 12 with HAPA“A Celebration of Lo`ea Hula Charles Kauhi Ka`upu ” in a concert to celebrate the life of one of Hawaii’s great Chanters. Surrounded by the lush forest and Halemaumau, Kilauea Military Camp’s Kilauea Theater will be the place to be with unforgettable performances by Barry and Ron as they celebrate their “music brother”.

HAPA

Guests are invited to come at 6:30 pm to join in chant and dance before the performance according to Volcano Art Center CEO Tanya Aynessazian. “Sharing the arts and celebrating Hawaii’s musicians is our mission. We believe in keeping art accessible and affordable for all, but as I have said in the past it’s the generous donations from our community that bring these great concerts to Volcano.”

“We are so excited to have Barry and Ron of HAPA performing and honoring the great art of Ol`i,” stated Concerts Coordinator David Wallerstein. “Charle’s expertise in `oli, the ancient art of Polynesian chant, is something that we want to celebrate with our elders and pass on to our keiki at Volcano Art Center. I promise a special and moving evening for all that join us.”

Wallerstein stated that he expects HAPA to sell out again, adding “we hope this wonderful evening will ignite a passion for music in all who attend and maybe inspire a few donations for this beautiful Polynesian art and Volcano Art Center.”

From HAPA’s humble beginnings when their self titled critically acclaimed album HAPA which captured all six Na Hoku Hanohano (Hawai’i’s grammys) awards for which it was nominated. To today with the incredible line-up of Barry Flanagan and Ron Kuala`au, HAPA’s brilliant artistry, musicianship and creativity affirms HAPA’s place among the greatest musicians of Hawaiian Music.

HAPA’s music evokes a place that many people at different times have referred to as heavenly. The overriding quality of their music is one of beauty and serenity, found in the majestic tones of oli (chant), mele (song), the elegant moments of the sacred dance known as Hula, and the exhilarating sounds of virtuoso slack key guitar.

The groups ground breaking music has established them as one of the most internationally recognized names in Hawaiian music since their debut release, with sold out shows from Honolulu, to Tokyo to New York…and again Volcano.

The concert with HAPA will begin at 7:00 p.m. with $35.00 tickets available for advance purchase at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus, at VAC Art Gallery or online at www.volcanoartcenter.org. For more information, contact David at (808) 967-8222 or concerts@volcanoartcenter.com.

Volcano Art Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created in 1974 whose mission is to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Hawaii through the arts and education.

UH Hilo TRiO programs recognized for assisting underrepresented students to enter and succeed in college

University of Hawaii at Hilo celebrates National TRiO Day on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 11am – 1pm on Campus Center Plaza. The University of Hawaii at Hilo has proudly sponsored TRiO Programs for over 33 years. The National TRiO Day celebration at UH Hilo highlights 25 years of Student Support Services Program success providing services to college participants and 33 years of Upward Bound Program service preparing high school students to enter and succeed in college.

TRiO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students typically underrepresented on college campuses with strong interest in pursuing a college degree. The mission of TRiO Program is to assist low-income, first-generation college bound students and students with disabilities to prepare to enter and advance through the college pipeline to attain at minimum a bachelor’s degree. UH Hilo is home to four TRiO Programs: two Regular Upward Bound Programs, one Upward Bound Math and Science Program and one Student Support Services Program.

Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science prepare high school students to enter and succeed in college. Throughout the year, students receive instruction and encouragement to excel academically. Students also receive help developing a personalized College Action Plan and career exploration plan, and participate in exciting cultural activities and personal development activities. During the summer students can reside on the UH Hilo campus and attend classes that simulate a college going experience. Over 95% of Upward Bound students enrolled in postsecondary education fall term immediately following high school.

The Student Support Services Program provides academic advising, financial and economic literacy instruction, assistance in locating other university resources and opportunities specific to the needs and interests of students as they pursue bachelor degrees and assistance applying to graduate and professional programs. Throughout the year students have access to tutoring, program computers, other educational resources and sponsored activities. Also, students receive assistance applying for financial aid and scholarships. On average, students enrolled in Student Support Services persist, advance and graduate at higher rates than similar non-SSSP students.

The TRiO Student Success Programs are a unit within the Division of Student Affairs.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events will occur between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Waimea Solid Waste Transfer Station and Sunday, March 4, 2012 at the Pāhoa Solid Waste Transfer Station.

These events are for household generated and self-hauled waste only. No business or farm wastes, however electronic waste will not be accepted.

The County of Hawai ‘i Department of Environmental Management holds these collection events so residents can conveniently dispose of acceptable HHW in a manner that protects both public health and the environment. Some types of acceptable HHW are automotive fluids, used batteries, fluorescent lights and pesticides. For a more complete list of acceptable or unacceptable HHW, please visit our website www.hawaiizerowaste.org. The website includes other useful information on solid waste diversion and recycling.

The next scheduled HHW Collection events will be held on June 2, 2012 in Hilo and June 9, 2012 in Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe).

Please direct your comments or questions regarding these HHW Collection events to Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist with the County of Hawai`i Department of Environmental Management at 961-8554 or email to recycle3@co.hawaii.hi.us.